Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Ukrainian leader Zelenskyy: Russia rejects push for an Orthodox Easter truce
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia rejected a proposal to establish an Easter truce this weekend so his people could have a respite from the brutal invasion. Published April 22, 2022
Biden sends more guns, money to Ukraine as Putin tries to reboot invasion
President Biden said Thursday the U.S. will be sending another $800 million in military aid to Ukraine to send an "unmistakable message" to Russian President Vladimir Putin as the Kremlin tries to reboot its troubled invasion of its neighbor. Published April 21, 2022
NJ launches recreational marijuana program
Kai Wallace of Jersey City has been using marijuana for over four decades. She's tired of looking over her shoulder. Published April 21, 2022
Biden sends $800M in additional military aid to Ukraine, bans Russian ships from U.S. ports
U.S. President Biden said Thursday he is sending another $800 million in military aid to Ukraine to send an "unmistakable message" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Published April 21, 2022
Putin orders blockade of Mariupol steel plant instead of invasion
Russian President Vladimir Putin told his troops Thursday not to storm a steel plant in Mariupol where Ukrainian fighters are holding out against the invaders. Published April 21, 2022
Biden administration appeals mask mandate rejection after CDC says it must fight
The Justice Department told a court in Florida Wednesday it is appealing a judge's ruling invalidating the federal mask mandate on public transportation after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the rule remains vital to protecting public health. Published April 20, 2022
Bidens will attend the White House Correspondents dinner on April 30
The White House Correspondents Association said President Biden and first lady Jill Biden will attend its annual dinner on April 30 after a lengthy presidential absence due to former President Donald Trump's spats with the mainstream media and the pandemic. Published April 20, 2022
Biden could try to run out the clock on transportation mask mandate: experts
The fight over the transportation mask mandate is turning into a "Catch-22" for President Biden, who wants to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its powers but doesn't want to risk a bad result on appeal. Published April 20, 2022
Milwaukee reimposes school mask mandate one day after lifting rule
Milwaukee schools opted to reimpose a mask mandate just one day after lifting the rule, citing "significant transmission" of the coronavirus in the Midwest city. Published April 20, 2022
VP Harris to officiate New Mexico governor’s wedding
Vice President Kamala Harris plans to officiate the wedding of New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in May. Published April 20, 2022
Tenn. GOP boots Trump-backed Morgan Ortagus, two others from primary ballot
The Tennessee GOP sparked a firestorm Tuesday by voting to remove Morgan Ortagus, a Trump-backed candidate, and two other Republican contenders from the primary ballot in a key House race. Published April 20, 2022
Justice Department signals appeal to restore transportation mask mandate
The Department of Justice announced Tuesday evening that it is ready to file an appeal of the decision out of Florida. Published April 19, 2022
Canceled public transportation mask mandate prompts patchwork of rules across U.S.
Many Americans flew bare-faced Tuesday, but court-ordered relief from the federal mask mandate on public transportation may be short-lived as the Justice Department signaled it is ready to file an appeal of the decision out of Florida. Published April 19, 2022
Biden sticks to mask-wearing on Air Force One despite mandate change
The White House stuck to mask-wearing during President Biden's trip to New Hampshire on Tuesday even though federal officials are no longer enforcing a mandate on commercial airline passengers. Published April 19, 2022
Passengers face a patchwork of mask rules on transit after court ruling
Passengers on planes, trains and buses are facing a confusing patchwork of mask rules across the country now that airlines are no longer enforcing President Biden's COVID-19 mask mandate, which a federal judge struck down on Monday. Published April 19, 2022
White House says Biden has faith in Sen. Feinstein amid concerns of her mental fitness
The White House on Monday said President Biden has confidence in Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California after a newspaper report said Senate colleagues are worried about her mental fitness to serve at age 88. Published April 18, 2022
Judge voids federal mask mandate for public transportation
A federal judge in Florida upended the mask mandate for airplane and other travel on Monday. Published April 18, 2022
Biden to agencies: Make sure infrastructure materials funded by law are ‘Made in America’
The Biden administration issued guidance Monday that says projects funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law must use steel and other materials from U.S. manufacturers. Published April 18, 2022
Bidens welcome families back to the White House for the Easter Egg Roll
Rain or shine, the egg roll is back at the White House. President Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed families and children back to the White House on Monday for the annual Easter tradition for the first time in three years, as the nation tries to shake off the pandemic doldrums and get back to normal. Published April 18, 2022
White House announces second global COVID-19 summit
The White House and its foreign counterparts said Monday they will hold a second global COVID-19 summit to plot a path out of the acute phase of the pandemic and prepare for future health threats. Published April 18, 2022
